Commonwealth marine reserves
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Commonwealth marine reserves: South-west | North-west | North | Great Barrier Reef | Coral Sea | Temperate East | South-east | Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Australia has the third largest marine estate of any nation in the world. It is a massive area larger than our landmass and extends from the tropical seas of the north to the sub-Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean.
In 1998, the Commonwealth and state and territory governments committed to the creation of a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) by 2012.
In 2012, the Australian Government established 40 new Commonwealth marine reserves around Australia building on existing marine reserves that have been gradually established since the first Commonwealth marine reserve was declared in 1982. The new Commonwealth marine reserves add more than 2.3 million square kilometres to Australia's marine reserve estate, resulting in a total area of 3.1 million square kilometres of ocean being managed primarily for biodiversity conservation, fulfilling the Australian Government's part in the creation of the national system.
Contact
Commonwealth Marine Reserves Branch
Parks Australia
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Edgar Waite Building
203 Channel Highway
Kingston TAS 7050
or
Email: marinereserves@environment.gov.au
Phone: 1800 069 352
Network management plans finalised
- Management plans and explanatory statements
- Media release - 12 March 2013
Indigenous Forum Outcomes Report
Recreational Fishing
Find out more about recreational fishing and marine reserves.
